Military Weddings

Invitations to weddings involving members of the United States armed services follow the same general guidelines used for civilian weddings. The format and the wording are the same. The only difference is in the use of titles. While civilians use social titles such as "Mr.," "Mrs.," and "Doctor," military personnel use their military titles, which many times include their rank and branch of service. Military titles should not be abbreviated.

Officers in the army, air force, and marines with a rank of captain or higher use their military titles before their names. Navy and coast guard officers with a rank of commander or higher also use their military titles before their names. When officers' names are used by themselves, the name of the branch of service in which they serve is mentioned on the line beneath their names. When their names are used with their spouse's name, the branch of service is not mentioned.

Junior officers do not use titles (neither military nor civilian) before their names. Their titles appear on a second line before the name of their branch of service. First lieutenants and Second lieutenants in the army both use "Lieutenant." In the air force and marines, however, "First" and "Second" are used.

All members of the military use only their branch of service on a second line. Their ranks are not used.

High-ranking officers who retire generally continue to use their military titles. Their retired status is noted after their service designation. When the service designation is not used, as on invitations issued by a retired colonel and his wife, the officer's retired status is not mentioned.

PARENTS OF THE BRIDE

Parents Are Married

FATHER IS AN OFFICER
Colonel and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester

FATHER IS A JUNIOR OFFICER
Lieutenant and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester

FATHER IS A NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OR ENLISTED MAN
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester

FATHER IS A RETIRED OFFICER
Colonel and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester

MOTHER IS AN OFFICER
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester
or
Captain Mary Chance Forrester
United States Army
and Mr. Andrew Jay Forrester

BOTH PARENTS ARE OFFICERS
Colonel and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester
or
Captain Mary Chance Forrester
United States Army
and Colonel Andrew Jay Forrester
United States Army

BOTH PARENTS HOLD THE SAME RANK
Colonel and Mrs. Andrew Jay Forrester
or
The Colonels Forrester
or
Colonel Mary Chance Forrester
United States Army
and Colonel Andrew Jay Forrester
United States Army

Parents Are Divorced

FATHER IS AN OFFICER
Mrs. Mary Chance Forrester
Colonel Andrew Jay Forrester
United States Army

FATHER IS A JUNIOR OFFICER
Mrs. Mary Chance Forrester
Andrew Jay Forrester
Lieutenant, United States Army

FATHER IS A NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OR ENLISTED MAN
Mrs. Mary Chance Forrester
Andrew Jay Forrester
United States Army

FATHER IS A RETIRED OFFICER
Mrs. Mary Chance Forrester
Colonel Andrew Jay Forrester
United States Army, Retired

MOTHER IS AN OFFICER
Captain Mary Chance Forrester
United States Army
Mr. Andrew Jay Forrester

BRIDE'S NAME

OFFICER
Commander Jennifer Marie Forrester
United States Army

JUNIOR OFFICER
Jennifer Marie Forrester
Ensign, United States Navy

NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OR ENLISTED WOMAN
Jennifer Marie Forrester
United States Navy

GROOM'S NAME

OFFICER
Major Nicholas Jude Strickland
United States Marine Corps

JUNIOR OFFICER
Nicholas Jude Strickland
First Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps

NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OR ENLISTED MAN
Nicholas Jude Strickland
United States Marine Corps